On the desktop and in the mobile market the situation is less clear. Of course, Dell will insist that it's free to make make its own decisions. But behind the scenes, it's easy to imagine Microsoft pressuring Dell to focus heavily on Windows 8.1 -- perhaps even offering up some new incentives to keep Dell loyal to Windows.

So where does that leave Chromebooks and Android tablets? Dell can dance around that question a bit -- unless HP shows serious mometum in those markets. HP is set to announce quarterly results later this week. If CEO Meg Whitman offers any upbeat statements about Chromebook and Android tablet demand, then Dell will likely be pressured to offer similar solutions.

Discuss this Article 5

Anonymous (not verified)

on Aug 20, 2013

I have used Chromebook's and personally find them too limiting to think they will truly take away a lot of PC sales. I see this as just another repeat of the whole netbook craze. People want to find that cheap but very good product and to be honest. While I see uses for the Chromebook and find my Chromebook to be good for casual web tasks. I do not find it capable enough to satisfy as a primary computer. I do not see my Samsung Chromebook lasting more then a year at best before developing problems or case breakage. Android tablets is another story in itself. Its possible Dell could lose customers because it does not have a decent tablet. Being married to Microsoft could have a result like Nokia is having with its partnership. Many keep asking the same of Nokia/Microsoft as they are with a Dell/Microsoft partnership. Does it benefit anyone?

Thanks to the Chromebook, I have finally been able to do what I have wanted to do for years - dump Microsoft and all its shoddy products. Now I use NOTHING from Microsoft and my computing has never been smoother and more problem-free.

Project Ophelia has not shipped yet, it has only been announced that it will ship this fall. I predict Project Ophelia will only be available to business customers as part of a back end solution which includes servers and/or services. microsoft will not allow Dell to sell them to consumers.

If Microsoft is investing in Dell, there will be a condition or punitive measures to ensure that Dell kills Android. That is Microsoft policy, and is what Microsoft did to Corel, Xandros, Nokia, Barnes & Noble etc.